No Going Back

Written by Kristi Huseby

Take our online study to explore the value and necessity of self-control in our lives today.

“Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family. But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9: 61-62, NLT)

Have you ever told yourself, “I’m done with that sin and I’m never going back to it?” I have – about a bazillion times! I get so disgusted with my sin that I dissociate myself from it. However, this dissociation only lasts a couple of days before I begin to miss my comfortable sin. At the point of missing it, I wish I had it back.

Why do we go back? Here are some reasons: the past always seems to be better, we don’t like the present, we’re afraid of the future, we can’t let go, our sin feels so much more comfortable than the unknown. These are all excuses, excuses and more excuses.

The Spirit of Revelation

Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. —Matthew 16:16-17

Peter heard the speculations of men and pondered them. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the other prophets. But when confronted with, "Who do you say I am?" Peter listened to the voice that spoke above the voices of men. Flesh and blood could not give him the right answer. Only the Spirit of God could reveal the right answer to him.

In the Book of Revelation, John repeated the words Jesus often spoke, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." He was not speaking of physical ears, but spiritual ears tuned in to God's spirit of revelation. The Spirit was not silent, but no one was listening in the Spirit.

Learn to be led by your spirit, or you will follow the dictates of your mind and your flesh. Get in tune with your spirit, strengthening it daily with the Word. Are you listening with spiritual ears?

Jesus, I confess that You are my 

Master, Savior, Lord, Friend, Teacher, 

and my all in all. Amen.

Where Faith Gets Awfully Messy

Lysa TerKeurst

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Last year I had emergency surgery on my ears. And while the pain went away, there is still a really loud, constant ringing in my left ear.

Because of this ringing, I've had many sleepless nights. But one night in particular proved to be more than I thought I could handle. The screeching in my ear reached an all time high and not even medication helped. My throat tightened as frustration of this situation threatened to spill out in a million tears. I could feel myself slipping over a terrifying edge ... that edge where hopelessness steps into the moment and you feel too weak to resist it.

“From Empty to Full” – Part 3 “What Shall I Do for You?”

“As the hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.”  

Psalm 42:1 Amplified Bible

EXPLORATION:

“From Empty to Full” – Part 3

“What Shall I Do for You?”

“Fullness” – Containing all that is possible. Complete in every detail.

What do I have of “value” within myself?

“God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.”

Fulton J. Sheen

INSPIRATION:

“It is the heart that makes a (woman) rich. (She) is rich according to what (she) is…not according to what (she) has.”

Henry Ward Beecher

When Faith Triumphs

Pastor Colin Smith

 

"Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth." 1 Kings 17:24

 

The boy was raised from the dead.  The woman received back her son, and at the end of the story, she says these words of faith to Elijah.

 

If you're a Christian today, then it's true you've begun the journey of faith.  It's also true that your faith is being tested.  And one day you will stand in the presence of Jesus and say, "Now I know."  That's the point of the resurrection.  Faith will be turned to sight.  Every question will be answered, and every tear will be wiped away. 

There Is A Miracle In Your House!

by Jeanniene Lee

Are you in need of a miracle? Within your house, within your hand, within your possession is the seed for your miracle. Yes, beloved, today you have within your possession the seed for the miracle you need right now. The seed for your future harvest is in your possession today.

The harvest you are reaping today, whether good or bad, is a product of the seed you sowed yesterday. Whether your yesterday was last week, last month, last year or ten years ago. You are reaping the harvest from the seeds you sowed in days gone by.

Galatians 6:7 warns us not to be deceived concerning God's law of sowing and reaping - "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Whatsoever means just that - what-so-ever.

Elijah : The Man Who Had No Fear of Man

Elias, Elijah [Ĕlī'as,Ĕlī'jah]—god is jehovah or god himself.

1. Elias is the Greek form of Elijah (Matt. 11:14). Elijah the Tishbite is the grandest and most romantic character Israel ever produced (1 Kings 17; 18;19).

The Man Who Had No Fear of Man

No career in the Old Testament is more vividly portrayed, or has as much fascination as that of the unique character of Elijah. 

The New Testament attests to his greatness and reveals what an indelible impression he made upon the mind of his nation. All we know of him before his dramatic appearance can be summed up in the words: “Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead” (1 Kings 17:1). Scripture is silent about his past history. 

WILL CHRISTIANS WHO COMMIT SUICIDE GO TO HEAVEN?

Serge Roux-Levrat

As the number of suicide increases dramatically in the developed countries, both in the traditional sense, as well as in assisted suicide, many Christians are wondering what happens to believers who take their lives. As always, theologians are divided on this key question. However, if we look at it from the only angle we can – that of love and hope – we will find out that the answer is much more obvious than we think.

Building Muscles of Faith

1 Kings 18:22-36

"I wish I had great faith." These are words that almost every Christian has said at one time or another. But faith is like a muscle, which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot make it happen.

Christians are to believe God, not only for salvation but for everything. Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life. Little faith hopes that God will do what He says; strong faith knows that He will; and great faith believes that He has already done it.

Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as opportunities for God to do His work—and the prophet believed Him for the supernatural. So can you. The Lord may not do every miraculous thing you ask of Him, but He does some extraordinary work in and through each person who is obedient and willing to trust in Him.

Will we be able to see and know our friends and family members in Heaven?

Many people say that the first thing they want to do when they arrive in heaven is see all their friends and loved ones who have passed on before them. 

In eternity, there will be plenty of time to see, know, and spend time with our friends and family members. However, that will not be our primary focus in heaven. We will be far more occupied with worshipping God and enjoying the wonders of heaven. 

Our reunions with loved ones are more likely to be filled with recounting the grace and glory of God in our lives, His wondrous love, and His mighty works. We will rejoice all the more because we can praise and worship the Lord in the company of other believers, especially those we loved on earth.

What does the Bible say about whether we will be able to recognize people in the afterlife? King Saul recognized Samuel when the witch of Endor summoned Samuel from the realm of the dead (1 Samuel 28:8-17).